Match Report
Fulham (0) 1-0 (0) Sunderland
Premier League Match Day 12 25/26 at Craven Cottage
Saturday 22nd November 2025 KO: 15:00
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
|
Fulham found that winning feeling as they deservedly beat Sunderland 1-0 in biblical conditions at Craven Cottage.
The hosts dominated throughout as the rain poured down in SW6, with Raúl Jimenez finally finding a way through in the 84th minute.
The home side started strongly with plenty of positive signs in the opening stages. Alex Iwobi tried an audacious bicycle kick from the edge of the box, but Black Cats ‘keeper Robin Roefs was behind it.
Although it was Marco Silva’s side who had the best of the first 45, Sunderland did create a chance when Bertrand Traoré raced into the box and forced Bernd Leno into a decent block.
Harry Wilson, fresh from his hat-trick for Wales in midweek, tried his luck after cutting in from the right, but his trademark curling effort was just wide. Moments later, Kevin caught sight of goal but was denied by Roefs to keep things level.
Our Welsh wizard found himself with a shooting opportunity yet again after Josh King’s clever flick, but this time his shot was deflected behind for a corner. Fulham continued to dominate, with Sander Berge stinging the palms of Roefs before the break.
| Match Stats |
Fulham |
Sunderland |
| Goals |
(0) 1 |
0 (0) |
|
| Scorers |
Raúl Jiménez 84 |
- |
| , |
| Goal attempts |
24 |
4 |
| On target |
6 |
2 |
| Shooting Accuracy |
25% |
50% |
| Possession |
57% |
43% |
| Passes |
472 |
360 |
| Passes Success |
85% |
80% |
| Crosses |
25 |
14 |
| Crosses Success |
28% |
14% |
| Corners |
7 |
4 |
| Tackles |
6 |
14 |
| Tackles Success |
60% |
43% |
| Saves |
2 |
4 |
| Fouls |
5 |
13 |
| Offsides |
1 |
3 |
| Yellows |
3 |
3 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: SkySports |
Having absorbed plenty of Fulham pressure in the first-half, our visitors nearly took the lead just 20 seconds into the second half, but Enzo Le Fée struck wide after breaking into the box.
A moment of inspiration from King saw him try and catch Roefs out from the halfway line, but the ball sailed wide. Alert defending from Joachim Andersen at the other end then prevented Wilson Isidor from tapping in at the near post.
Still Fulham searched for the breakthrough, but Iwobi’s half-volley when a clearance fell his way was wayward. It looked as if Harry’s moment had arrived on 67 minutes when he took Ryan Sessegnon’s ball through in his stride, but the finish trickled agonisingly past the post.
Emile Smith Rowe made an immediate impact after being introduced from the bench, lashing a fierce shot just wide with 15 minutes remaining. When fellow substitute Samuel Chukwueze sent in a delicious cross from the left, Raúl’s header was off target.
Involved again, Smith Rowe got away down the left and pulled the ball back to Wilson, but our number eight was denied again with Reinildo Mandava sliding in to stop the shot.
Finally, with just seven minutes left, the deadlock was broken. Chukwueze’s teasing cross was perfect for Raúl, who made no mistake in the middle to give us a deserved, and hard-fought, advantage.
There were chances to go further ahead late on, but the solitary goal was enough for three points, with the Fulham faithful singing in the rain at full-time.
Fulham manager Marco Silva
Fulham manager Marco Silva was delighted as Fulham delivered the perfect response to their previous game with a fully deserved 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Craven Cottage.
Raúl Jiménez’s clinical second-half finish secured the points, but Silva was just as pleased with the team’s control, composure, and dominance throughout the match.
“We clearly deserved the three points,” our boss said afterwards. “Good performance from us. We scored a great goal, but we should have scored much earlier in the game. Winning puts us back on the right track after the last performance (a 1-0 defeat to Everton) that wasn't the standard it should have been away from home.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Iwobi (Reed 89), Wilson (Castagne 94), King (Smith Rowe 64), Kevin (Chukwueze 64), Jimenez
Unused substitutes: Cairney, Traore, Cuenca, Kusi-Asare, Lecomte
Goals:
Raúl Jiménez 84 (right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samuel Chukwueze with a cross.)
Yellow Card: Bernd Leno (arg,90+3), Harry Wilson (arg,90+3), Raúl Jiménez (arg,90+3)
Sunderland: Roefs, Hume (Mayenda 90), Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Mandava, Traore (Talbi 64), Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee (Adingra 90), Isidor (Brobbey 64)
Unused substitutes: Patterson, Neil, O'Nien, Alderete, Masuaku
Yellow Card: Ballard (f,32),Mandava (f,79), Hume (f,88)
Referee:
Darren England (Barnsley)
Attendance: 27,560
Fulham are next in action at 15.00 next Saturday, 29th November, when they play Tottenham in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.